Better World Shopping Guide

The Better World Shopping Guide is a book that rates companies by such factors as a company's record on human rights and how they treat the environment and urges shoppers to buy from the better rated companies. "The only comprehensive guide for socially and environmentally responsible consumers available, this book ranks every product on the shelf from A to F so you can quickly tell the "good guys" from the "bad guys" - turning your grocery list into a powerful tool to change the world," as stated on the book's website.

Ratings
Companies are given an overall rating based on:
 * Human rights: - for example sweatshops, 3rd world community exploitation, child labor
 * Environment: - global warming, rainforest destruction, pollution, recycling, renewable energy, greenwashing, illegal dumping, sustainable farming
 * Animal protection: - factory farming, animal testing, humane treatment
 * Community involvement: - family farms, local business support
 * Social justice: - fair wages, union busting efforts, health & safety records, discrimination

Overview
The book says that money is power and urges shoppers to vote with their wallets... "wherever large amounts of money collect, so also new centers of power form. The latest historical manifestation of this is the modern corporation. As citizens, on average, we might vote once ever 4 years, if at all. As consumers, we vote every single day with the purest form of power...money."

Top companies

 * 1) Seventh Generation
 * 2) Method (Method Products)
 * 3) Organic Valley
 * 4) Clif Bar
 * 5) Aveda
 * 6) Tom's of Maine
 * 7) Dr.Bronner's
 * 8) King Arthur Flour
 * 9) Earthbound Farm
 * 10) Dansko Footwear

It also lists the worst companies, the companies receiving the most bailout money, the companies spending the most on lobbying, etc.

Details
Author: Ellis Jones (ISBN 0865716803) Publication Date: September 2010 Web: http://www.betterworldshopper.org

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Corporate campaigns
 * Fair trade
 * Green America